Open plan living areas are the standard in new homes as families like to spend quality time together. But let’s be realistic. If you’ve got teenagers and their friends, or perhaps young kids who have too much energy, you need extra space. At Move Homes, we have prepared some activity style guide ideas to suit your needs.
A Home Theatre is the most common additional living space and its timing is perfect with the rise of Netflix and other home streaming devices. Studies and offices are also growing in popularity as more people work from home. There are also other spare areas that we call an Activity or Foyer, which gives you a blank canvas to use as you need.
There are many different ways you can use these extra living spaces, so we’ve put taken photos from our ex-display homes to give you ideas. While furniture plays the most important role in shaping these spaces, it’s worth thinking about electrical placements (e.g. do you need an extra data point?) and if you want the space open or closed.
Activity spaces can be completely zoned off, partially zoned, or entirely open with the surrounding rooms. A solid wall is a great option if you want privacy, and you can even add a door to create a small Study. However if the space is small, you might want to consider partially screening it, whether that’s a 14-course high wall or a frame.
A Home Theatre is a common fixture in many new homes (side note: have you seen the price of movie tickets?!). Most Home Theatres are left open without any doors to create more flow in the house, but we’ve seen some clients include French doors or a sliding barn for privacy. Plus, dimmer lights and extra powerpoints bring an extra touch of class.
With more people working from home, the Study or Home Office is making a resurgence. It’s not so much about the size, but having a dedicated space where the homeowner can actually focus on their work without any distractions. This can be an open section, especially if it’s a study nook, or closed for more privacy.
It might only take up a small amount of space in a new home, but the key drop is both a stylish and practical feature. We’ve seen built-in shelves be the perfect place for ornaments (yep, including keys) and can add a touch of sophistication to any entry.
Installing extra powerpoints is a great idea, as your Theatre might also be used for many gaming consoles and other electronic devices. You can also consider the lighting, whether that’s star lights or dimmer lights, to create a proper movie atmosphere.
It’s entirely up to you! Some of our clients like to have it open to create a bigger open plan area. Others include sliding or double doors to provide a private space.
No, a study area doesn’t need to be big as devices have become smaller and portable.
Move Homes is a leading local builder in WA and a member of The Prime Group. We create custom home designs to suit your needs, whether that’s 5 bedrooms or a huge Games room. Aside from our activity style guide, we’ve also prepared various design ideas for all aspects of your build. Get in touch with us on 9249 4455 or send us an enquiry for more information. We’ll help you build a stylish and unique home in Perth!
Over the last 50 years we have proudly built over 20,000 homes for Australian families. We have the same values today as we did in 1969 when we built our first home in Light Street Dianella.
